News and Notes, Volume 12, Number 12

4/5/2012

World, Olympic 100m champs to face off at adidas Grand Prix
Three of the top four women in the world, including the reigning World and Olympic champions, will headline the 100-meter dash at the adidas Grand Prix on June 9, organizers announced Tuesday.

Carmelita Jeter, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, ranked No. 1, 3 and 4 in the world for 2011, will do battle in the short sprint, while a resurgent Jeremy Wariner will return to Icahn Stadium to defend his 400-meter title.

In its eighth year as one of the premier track-and-field events in the world, the adidas Grand Prix, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will feature dozens of Olympic medalists and World Champions, including the reigning World Champion at 100 meters, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake. It will again be the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League circuit, and is part of the Visa Championship Series. Tickets are now available by calling 1-877-849-8722.

Masters great Sypniewski passes away
U.S. masters distance running has lost one of its oldest and most remarkable athletes. Henry Sypniewski, 93, of Cheektowaga, NY died at his home on April 1. According to family and friends, the cause of death was stomach cancer.

Born on July 7, 1918, Henry was veteran of World War II, in which he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following a career as a machinist, Henry took up running at age 70 and seemed to excel more in each five-year age group he reached.

Following his 90th birthday, Henry set U.S. M90-94 records in the 5K (33:46), the 15K (2:01:39), and the half-marathon (3:03:56) (2008) distances. In 2009 he also set the 10K mark at 1:13:40. Despite being hampered by a variety of injuries in his final two years, Henry managed to set U.S. single-age records for the 5K distance in each of the past three years: 38:53 at age 91; 41:00 at age 92; and a pending mark of 45:47 in his final race at age 93.

Henry’s performances, almost exclusively on the roads, earned his USATF Masters Age Division Runner of the Year honors in various years and three different age groups: M80-84 in 1998 and 1999; M85-89 in 2003, 2004 and 2005; and M90-94 in 2008, 2009, and 2010.